Crowning passion

When making coronets, Li insists on following the ancient technique of threading the pearls and gems, rather than gluing them on the settings. The craft is complicated, involving a lot of different techniques. A single technique could take up to a year to master.

Li herself started learning embroidery and a few other crafts from her grandmother at the age of 4. When she grew up, Li worked at the Zhuzhou railway bureau, she never gave up honing her handicraft skills.

"Back then, the bureau often hosted stage performances for the rail staff, and I was responsible for making all the props and headpieces in the styles of various ethnic groups," Li says.

With the experience, she then set her heart on making "the ultimate ornament", a coronet.

"To have something you love is terrifying. Because once you find it, you'd be willing to give it your all," she adds.

Chen Yinlong, president of the hanfu organization, says: "There are many ways to make coronets nowadays, using machines, or even 3D printers. If one doesn't observe them closely, they might not see any difference. But these are not what we want.